Les Animated Photographs de David Devant (Mechanic's Large Hall, 26 janvier 1898)

Depuis le mois d'août 1896, David Devant, le célèbre magicien, a organisé une entreprise afin de distribuer et présenter des films en Grande-Bretagne. Il compte, à partir du milieu de l'année 1897 sur plusieurs collaborateurs dont son propre frère, Ernest Wighton, parfois accompagné de J. W. Seers. C'est d'ailleurs lui qui est chargé de la présentation des vues animées au Mechanic's Large Hall de Nottingham, le 26 janvier 1898 : 

DEVANT’S ANIMATED PHOTOGRAPHS.—At the Mechanics' Large Hall, last night, entertainment of an excellent order was given, before very large attendance, by one of the companies under the control of Mr. Devant, the well-known Egyptian Hall conjurer. Mr. Devant has established himself firmly as a conjurer, but within the past eighteen months he has also taken up the matter of animated photography, and has the present time several companies travelling the country. No. 3 company was responsible for the entertainment last night at the Mechanics' Hall, and we understand that it included brother of the famous conjurer, vis., Mr. Ernest Wighton, who was the operator. Mr. Wighton, in the pictures which placed before the audience, travelled through [12] miles of celluloid film. The pictures had been taken at the rate [4] between twenty and thirty instantaneous photographs per second, and for each picture, which lasts a minute, there are about 1.500 instantaneous photographs. Last night was the first occasion on which any display connected with Mr. Devant had been given in Nottingham, but judging from the large attendance and the nature of the entertainment it will not be the list. Amongst the large number of subjects thrown on the screen probably the most popular was the Diamond Jubilee procession, the American express travelling at the rate sixty […] hour, the sea cave, and Mr. Devant conjured the remarkable vanishing cage scene being particularly noteworthy. The pictures were Interspersed with very entertaining sketches by Mr. Griffith Humphreys, society entertainer, who was deservedly accorded very hearty recognition.

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Nottingham Journal, Nottingham, 27 janvier 1898, p. 8. 

De façon assez curieuse, à une époque où tout de même le principe du cinématographe a été déjà largement divulgué, le journaliste s'attarde à expliquer les aspects techniques de la projection. Nous apprenons malgré tout qu'Ernest Wighton est responsable de l'équipe nº 3 des trois qu'a mises en place David Devant... Mais rien de plus sur le programme proposé.

Les Animated Photographs de David Devant (Mechanic's Hall, <28> avril 1898)

En avril, l'équipe de David Devant est de retour à Nottingham pour trois soirées de vues animées, mais sans beaucoup de précisions supplémentaires :

TO-NIGHT.
MECHANICS’ HALL. NOTTINGHAM.
WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, AND FRIDAY.
APRIL 27, 28 AND 29, AT EIGHT O’CLOCK,
MR. DAVID DEVANTS
ANIMATED PHOTOs,
Direct from
MASKELYNE AND COOKE,
The Egyptian Hall, London
THE FINEST AND MOST EXTENSIVE COLLECTION EVER SHOWN AT ONE TIME.
Mr. MAURICE VICTOR, Conjuror.
Mr HOWARD CRISPIN, Humourist.
Prices:—-3s, 2s., 1s., and 6d. (limited).
Plan and Tickets Farmer’s and the Hall.

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Nottingham Journal Thursday 28 April 1898, 1.

Parmi les collaborateurs, on retrouve Maurice Victor, un magicien qui a l'habitude de travailler avec l'équipe de David Devant.

Le cinematographe de Phil and Bernard (The Empire, 13 juin 1898)

Phil & Bernard présente leur cinematographe au théâtre de l'Empire à la mi-juin :

THE EMPIRE
TEATRE OF VARIETES, SOUTH SHERWOOD-STREET
Managing Director.............................OSWALD STOLL.
MONDAY, JUN 13th, 1898. AND DURING TH EWEEK.
The PHIL and BERNARD CINEMATOGRAPHE with
ANIMATED PHOTOGRAPHS of the
GLADSTONE OBSEQUIES.
LEAVING HAWARDEN CHURCH.
THE PEOPLE'S TRIBUTE IN PALACE YARD AND WEST-MINSTRER HALL.
THE FUNERAL CORTEGE.
The Scene at Hawarden was taken by permission of Mr Herbert Gladstone, and the remainder by permission of
The Lord Chamberlain.

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Notthingham Daily Express, Notthingham, lundi 13 juin 1898, p. 1.